Oliver encourages knowing the facts
A letter by Brian Carlson (“Bailey makes empty promises,” ODE, March 8) was printed which unfairly targeted my running mate, Eric Bailey, and I. Carlson asserted three unsubstantiated points, all of which ignored the truth.
Yes, Bailey did go to the Kappa Delta house and express the concern of immunizing all students who enter the University. Carlson says this is not within the power of the ASUO, but it is. This is our student government, and we have the voice to make change. Sitting on your hands gets nothing done.
Next, Carlson claims that both of us are resident assistants. First of all, I don’t even live in University housing, and Bailey is a programming assistant. We knew the rules of this election, and the people in the residence halls who have displayed our campaign signs made the choice to do so. Claiming that you don’t know the rules doesn’t give you the authority to break them.
Finally, my grievance was not filed as a strategic tactic. It was filed because I felt someone broke the rules that are intended to make the ASUO election fair and equitable to all. I must also remind you that my grievance wasn’t the only one claiming that Bret and Matt broke the rules.
Throughout my time on this campus, and especially during this campaign, I have been a strong advocate of increasing student debate on campus. I encourage any student to express their concerns, but it is important that you know the facts before you do so.

Jeff Oliver

ASUO Executive candidate


junior


journalism /political science

Beware of OSPIRG’s McActivism
OSPIRG is working feverishly to associate itself with environmental well-being. The group has crafted the opinion that a vote for OSPIRG is a vote for Mother Earth. I am compelled to address you as an environmentalist who will vote not to subsidize OSPIRG.
OSPIRG defines itself as a “grassroots,” community public-interest group, but an obscene amount of the group’s funding, totaling $144,426 of our incidental fee, leaves Eugene. The group, formally OSPIRG Foundation Inc., is a distant political action corporation or, as I like to call it, McActivism. The McActivists use our money to pay rent in the StatePIRG buildings, supply and decorate offices and salary their lobbyists and lawyers.
One of many problems with McActivism is that while technology blessed each McDonald’s drive-thru with a cost display of our purchase, we students receive no such convenience from the McActivists. It is simply not in OSPIRG’s interest that students are made aware of how this money is spent.
Our money should be made available to campus organizations, not just the local McActivism franchise. The possibilities are endless for us to use our money in a way that directly affects our environment and our lives, if we let the lawyers and lobbyists purchase their own recycled paper.
OSPIRG succeeded in appealing to our maternal emotions of environmental protection. Allow me to appeal to your logic. We can do better than McActivism. Do not “super-size it,” work to change the menu.

Dayna Phillips

senior


history